יְהוָ֗ה אֶ֤רֶךְ אַפַּ֨יִם֙ וְרַב־חֶ֔סֶד נֹשֵׂ֥א עָוֹ֖ן וָפָ֑שַׁע וְנַקֵּה֙ לֹ֣א יְנַקֶּ֔ה פֹּקֵ֞ד עֲוֹ֤ן אָבֹות֙ עַל־בָּנִ֔ים עַל־שִׁלֵּשִׁ֖ים וְעַל־רִבֵּעִֽים׃
‘YHWH is slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, forgiving iniquity and transgression, but He does not clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and fourth generations.’
Morphology
- יְהוָ֗ה (YHWH) – Root: Proper noun; Form: Singular; Translation: “YHWH”; Notes: The covenant name of God, often rendered as “LORD.”
- אֶ֤רֶךְ (ʾerek) – Root: ארך (ʾ-r-k); Form: Noun masculine singular construct; Translation: “Slow”; Notes: Describes the attribute of patience.
- אַפַּ֨יִם (ʾappayim) – Root: אף (ʾ-p); Form: Dual noun; Translation: “Anger”; Notes: Literally “nostrils,” used metaphorically for anger.
- וְרַב־חֶ֔סֶד (ve-rav-ḥesed) – Root: רב (r-b) + חסד (ḥ-s-d); Form: Conjunction + adjective + noun masculine singular; Translation: “And abundant in lovingkindness”; Notes: Indicates God’s enduring mercy and grace.
- נֹשֵׂ֥א (nose) – Root: נשא (n-s-ʾ); Form: Qal participle masculine singular; Translation: “Forgiving”; Notes: Implies carrying or bearing the weight of sin.
- עָוֹ֖ן (ʿavon) – Root: עון (ʿ-v-n); Form: Noun masculine singular; Translation: “Iniquity”; Notes: Refers to moral wrongdoing or guilt.
- וָפָ֑שַׁע (va-fesha) – Root: פשע (p-sh-ʿ); Form: Conjunction + noun masculine singular; Translation: “And transgression”; Notes: Refers to rebellion against divine authority.
- וְנַקֵּה֙ (ve-naqkeh) – Root: נקה (n-q-h); Form: Piel infinitive absolute; Translation: “But clearing”; Notes: Indicates that forgiveness is not unconditional.
- לֹ֣א יְנַקֶּ֔ה (lo yenaqkeh) – Root: נקה (n-q-h); Form: Negative particle + Piel imperfect 3rd person masculine singular; Translation: “He does not clear”; Notes: Expresses justice in judgment.
- פֹּקֵ֞ד (poqed) – Root: פקד (p-q-d); Form: Qal participle masculine singular; Translation: “Visiting”; Notes: Refers to divine attention to sin and its consequences.
- עֲוֹ֤ן (ʿavon) – Root: עון (ʿ-v-n); Form: Noun masculine singular construct; Translation: “The iniquity of”; Notes: Reiterates the theme of guilt and wrongdoing.
- אָבֹות֙ (avot) – Root: אב (ʾ-v); Form: Noun masculine plural; Translation: “The fathers”; Notes: Refers to the ancestral generation.
- עַל־בָּנִ֔ים (ʿal-banim) – Root: בן (b-n); Form: Preposition + noun masculine plural; Translation: “On the children”; Notes: Denotes the passing of consequences to descendants.
- עַל־שִׁלֵּשִׁ֖ים (ʿal-shilleshim) – Root: שלש (sh-l-sh); Form: Preposition + noun masculine plural; Translation: “To the third generation”; Notes: Indicates extended accountability.
- וְעַל־רִבֵּעִֽים (ve-ʿal-ribbeʿim) – Root: רבע (r-b-ʿ); Form: Conjunction + preposition + noun masculine plural; Translation: “And to the fourth generation”; Notes: Continues the notion of generational effects.